Andover council approves $2 million KDOT-backed agreement for south backage road

The Andover City Council voted unanimously on March 31 to approve a city–state agreement with the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) for the South Backage Road (Cloud/Clyde to Allen) project, securing a $2 million grant — the program maximum — from KDOT's Access Management Construction Program.

Les Mangus, the city's Director of Community Development, described the agreement and said the $2 million represents KDOT's maximum participation for the program. "This grant ... is a $2 million grant which is the maximum for the program," Mangus said. He told council the city's costs under the agreement will cover preliminary engineering, right-of-way acquisition, utility relocation and construction engineering, which staff estimated at about $900,000.

Council members discussed project phasing, clarified that no homes or businesses will be removed for the one-eighth-mile section addressed by this agreement, and noted the 19 acres crossed by the planned roadway are slated for a future apartment complex and that the property owner will dedicate right-of-way to enable construction. The council approved the KA-7972-01 agreement and authorized the mayor to sign; the motion passed by voice vote (6-0).

Next steps include finalizing right-of-way and construction engineering, coordinating the portion of the corridor that will be built by KDOT in a related phase, and reporting construction and grant execution updates to council.